HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
It appears I'm a little slow on the uptake, but as they always say... "Better late than never!".... err, or was that "Better never late!!"?? No matter...I've decided I am WAY past due in updating my neglected little blog.
Now that we have returned from our holiday travels north to visit Ashley & Casey (youngest daughter & SIL) & my brother and his family, I am slowly returning to post-holiday living. Do I even admit that we STILL have Christmas decorations gathered, waiting to be boxed and hidden away for another year? I have high hopes of completing my project to organize and store holiday decor in a more accessible manner than in the past. Wish me luck!! I suppose the success of that project depends somewhat on my ability to tear myself away from another interest we've recently rekindled...working on our family history / genealogy. (more on that later)
I guess I'm one of those personality types that struggle with an "all or nothing" challenge in my time management balancing act. I tend to pour myself into the project at hand, sometimes to the neglect of the daily grind of life. Because my projects are usually more fun and creative than cooking and cleaning...I tend to sometimes... well...uuuhhh..."overlook"..."put off"..."neglect"... some of the more mundane tasks facing me. So, that being said, I have been admonishing myself to keep up with my daily disciplines and have enjoyed some success this past week. I began using my computerized calendar program to help me with my task list and schedules (Microsoft Outlook), I've begun my exercising again, and working on consistently completing my daily Bible study for the Ladies Day study of John that resumed last week. Baby steps....
So...I won't rattle on any more as I thought I'd catch you up to date by sharing some pictures of what we've been up to over the past 5 weeks.
It was a treat to spend time with Ashley, Casey (and Lacey) over Christmas.
We just don't get to see them enough!!
I had some time to kill one afternoon while Ashley & Casey were at work...so I abused their dog, Lacey, by making her endure a doggy "photo session". :-) I'm sure she'll be happy when the grandkids come along so I will have new subjects to hold hostage.
I have to give her credit...she was a pretty good sport and I had fun practicing with her.
Lacey has that killer instinct...see...she captured a goose... oh, it's a stuffed toy you say?? Shh, don't tell Lacey, she thinks she's the GREAT WHITE HUNTER!
It's always great to have the opportunity to spend time together...
Brad & I enjoyed the chance to spend an afternoon with my brother. He taught me how to make a writing pen...from wood...on his lathe. Really neat!! My pen is made from pink wood brought from Africa!
We took Ashley's dog for a walk one afternoon and I had fun capturing some neighborhood sights...Christmas time in PA! The snow and cold weather reminded us of growing up in Ohio.
Nothing like freshly fallen snow...especially when the weather is mild enough for a walk.
This old barn down the street has so much character...couldn't resist.
Snow...and more snow...
I don't miss THIS part of living where there is snow...the shoveling, the dirt and slush...the driving in it! Notice the hill in the background...certainly NOT a sight you'll see around where we live in Texas. Nope... flat as a pancake here! So I always enjoy being in countryside with some movement to the land. However... Texas does have some great advantages...
You don't have to shovel sunshine!! These perky flowers greeted us upon our arrival home ...Awwwww...Christmas time in Texas!!
Can you believe we still have flowers blooming!? Although the last picture was flowers from our front porch...this picture was taken out in front of a local mall... (I was bored sitting close-by at a stop light a few days ago and "just happened" to have my small camera in my purse. ;-)
Brad and I got to spend a lot of time together during December as he had several weeks of vacation to use up. This is a pic of me showing off one of the "stocking stuffer" gifts he gave me...this REALLY cool spatula.
New Year's Eve gathering with Erin, Micah and some dear friends / neighbors!
January 6th, Brad and I celebrated our 29th Wedding Anniversary! Brad brought me a dozen of these beautiful roses!!
One of the highlights of our year is to start out with the annual "Mulberrian" Dinner. A group of dear friends originally all from the same church and a home Bible Study we hosted for over 15 years. (from 1982-1997) Although many of us have moved and attend different churches now...we still keep in touch and share in each other's lives. A few years back we began inviting our older "kids" / couples to join us. Even though we were missing one couple and several of the second generation "kids" this year... we had 20 (plus 3 unborn) in attendance. I hope some day to have us all together...the group would be pushing 50!! One of the sons is in Iraq, so it brings the war a little closer to home for us. It's one of those rare groups that have gone from baby showers to bridal showers....and now back to baby showers again!!
Our three "Mothers-in-waiting": Lisa (due any minute), Mimi (delivered their son two weeks ago) and Erin (due May 4th)
It was also a treat over Christmas to see Salem, Erin's best friend. We are ALL delighted that, like so many major events in life, they get to experience pregnancy together. They have been friends since they were 7 years old, shared an apartment together during college, married within months of each other...and now are expecting their first baby within weeks of each other...both sons!! Congratulations!!
It has been so nice to have Megan back in town a few times over the past month!! We have been able to spend some fun times together talking, doing lunch, shopping...doing lunch again... ;-)
Meg was pleased with this cute pair of shoes she found when I took her shopping for some Christmas gifts. Too bad we didn't catch a picture of the skirt we got to go with the shoes!!
Well, that about wraps up my photo blog for life over the past month. I hope to have a chance to drop by and visit with my friends in blogville soon!!
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I know, I know, Ultrasound pictures always leave you feeling like "okay, what am I looking at here??" But, take our word on this one... Erin and Micah asure us that our grandson is quite active and doing well. We are so thankful for a good report!! And, you know me, I can't make this announcement without posting his FIRST offical picture! Just to let you know, I have dibs on taking his first 100 photos AFTER birth. 
